13. Chapter 13
It took over a week to find a time for all of us to meet, considering our busy schedules.
Easton and I had been together for about a month, and now I was going to meet his fathers for the first time.
My stomach was a little queasy from nerves, but Easton reassured me he would still keep me if they didn’t like me.
Regardless, I wanted them to like me, and I wanted to like them.
I shifted the container holding the cake I’d made, careful not to drop it as I followed Easton along the stone path surrounded by landscaping to the large home in Vienna, Virginia.
I’d never been to the quaint small town before, but I knew of it.
Vienna and McLean were where all the rich people lived.
The house was made of gray stone and HardiPlank , painted white, and tucked away between tall, thick trees. It had recently snowed, so the expansive yard was blanketed in white, and next to the house stood a silly snowman with a carrot nose that made me smile, instantly putting me at ease.
“Pretty house.”
“Dalton and Sid recently bought it after they got married. This is just one of their homes. Sid has a condo in the city as well.”
“Must be nice.”
I couldn’t imagine having so much money that you could buy several homes. Our home was small, and it was okay before Mom died, but Dad had just stopped caring.
Instead of knocking, Easton opened the door and walked inside, wiping his shoes on the rug before removing them.
“Take off your shoes.”
He took the container from me as I toed off my sneakers and put them off to the side, next to his nicer leather shoes. Then I took off my coat and removed my scarf. Easton handed the container back to me so he could hang our coats in the closet.
The home was stunning inside, full of beautiful crown molding, comfortable furniture that was bold in color and texture, yet also carried a traditional vibe. I was in awe. Someone professional must have decorated it. The entire house looked like it had been featured in Architectural Digest .
The closer we got to the kitchen, the more the aroma hit me, making my mouth water. Scents of roasted meat and herbs filled the air.
They probably had some fancy dessert. My carrot cake suddenly felt inadequate.
As soon as Easton stepped into the kitchen, a little boy of about six squealed and rushed him. Easton lifted him and carried him on his hip. I may have melted at the precious sight. And Easton said he couldn’t love. Please .
When I followed him inside, one taller man, well over six feet with cropped, dark blond hair, stood with his back to me, pouring two glasses of red wine.
The other man, a few inches taller than Easton and me, stood at the oven, pulling out a roast. He was leaner than the other man and had much darker hair.
I smiled at the black apron, featuring a graphic of a wiener, which read, ‘ Smokin’ Hot Sausage . ’
They turned around and smiled warmly at Easton. You could clearly see the love and care they had for him. It warmed my heart to know that Easton had people to love him after coming from such a horrible upbringing.
Easton turned to face me, still holding the boy. “This here is Owen.”
“Hi, Owen. I’m Thomas.”
The child smiled brightly, full of missing teeth, strawberry-blond hair falling into his face, and hazel eyes. “Hi, Thomas!”
“The big man pouring wine is Sid. And the one with the ridiculous apron on is Dalton.”
“Don’t knock his apron. I had that custom-made for my Boy Scout, thank you very much,” Sid huffed playfully.
I laughed, instantly put at ease by the light banter.
“This is Thomas. He’s mine, so be nice.”
My face flamed as I shook Sid’s hand first, holding the cake container precariously with one arm.
His blue eyes that nearly matched mine twinkled with humor, and while he wore a smirk, there was something hard about him, too.
He was someone who looked like he would fight hard for his family.
He wasn’t as laid-back as he first appeared.
“Hello,” I said to him. “It’s nice to meet you finally.”
“I’m presuming Easton has yammered non-stop about how great I am.”
I snorted a laugh. “Yes, all good things.”
“Don’t tease him, Sid,” Easton admonished. “Not everyone gets your humor.”
Sid winked at him. “Especially you.”
I nearly died when Easton rolled his eyes, looking even younger than he was.
Next, I shook Dalton’s hand. His features were kinder and softer, and his warm brown eyes were inviting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Thomas. Can I take that?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s, ah, carrot cake. I’m sure you’ve planned a better dessert, but I wanted to make something. It’s the least I could do. I don’t generally cook that much. Not lots of time, but I… sorry. I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. You’re more than welcome here,” Dalton said, putting the cake on the counter. “And thank you for the cake. I’m sure we’ll love it.”
When dinner was ready, we all sat down in the dining room to eat. Everything looked so perfect, beautiful, and tasty. I swore their lives were straight out of a magazine.
“Easton said you two just got married? How did you all meet?” I asked between bites of prime rib.
Sid took a sip of his wine and leaned back in his chair. “We were high school sweethearts.”
I swooned at that. “Oh, that’s so—”
“We were not high school sweethearts,” Dalton said, interrupting me. “Your brain has suddenly gone faulty.” Then he looked at me, smirking. “Sid here was my bully back in high school.”
“Way to ruin a perfectly made-up story, Boy Scout,” Sid interjected, exaggeratingly rolling his eyes.
Dalton sighed, but smiled affectionately at Sid before looking at me again.
“Let’s just say Sid and I met in chaos. And from those flames, we found common ground, despite being completely different.
” He grabbed Sid’s hand. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Well… I could’ve done without all the chaos and flames. ”
“They’re both weird,” Easton said to me, and I nearly spit out the water I was drinking before laughing. His smile was small, so I knew he cared about the two men. And that was literally his first joke ever.
Sid raised a wineglass in cheer. “And you love us anyway… or put up with us, at the very least.”
“I like having two daddies!” Owen, who was sitting next to me, said around a mouthful of roasted potatoes. “Sid throws me around a lot.”
I patted the boy’s back. “I remember when my dad did that.” Back when he was fun and great. I used to look up to him. Now, disappointment filled me whenever I saw him.
“Easton says you’re going to school?” Dalton said.
“Yes, well… It’s just afternoon and evening classes at the community college.
Nothing mind-blowing. I want to be a nurse.
” I shrugged. “I’d rather be a doctor or something, but…
that’s more money and time than I have between working and taking care of my y ounger sister.
I got into medicine when my mom was diagnosed with lymphoma. ”
“Sorry to hear that,” Sid said.
“Thanks. She died three years ago.”
“How old is your sister?”
“Annie’s fifteen and a handful.”
“She’s angry a lot,” Easton said.
I burst out laughing. “As I said, she’s a handful, but she’s very sweet and smart.”
Dalton pointed at Owen. “I’m not looking forward to that one becoming a teen.”
“Owen will be perfect,” Easton said.
That right there proved how much he cared about his family. And more proof that he loved. Just because someone didn’t get all warm and fuzzy didn’t mean they couldn’t love. Did you know who was all warm and fuzzy? Me.
I was staring at Easton, feeling the love for him consume me, and worshiping the ground he walked on. I still couldn’t believe he had chosen me, of all people, to be with. If he ever broke up with me, I would literally die. Or hunt him down and beg until he agreed to take me back.
“I see it now,” Sid said, his blue eyes grazing between Easton and me.
“See what?” Easton asked, shoving a potato into his mouth and chewing methodically.
“Why you like Thomas. No offense, Thomas. It’s just that Easton is built differently.”
“Oh, I know. It’s what drew me to him. He’s honest, straightforward, handsome, refined… He’s perfect. ”
Easton glanced at me, his pale brown eyes shimmering with pleasure. His face may not have emotive expressions, but you could always tell when his mood shifted, as subtle as it was.
Then, to my surprise, he brushed the backs of his fingers against my face before he resumed eating. His reaction was fleeting, but it said so much.
After dinner, I sat in the living room with Sid and Easton as Dalton headed upstairs to bathe his son and get him ready for bed. When he was done, he called downstairs for Easton to go up and read to Owen before he went to sleep.
“I won’t be long,” he said to me. “Owen, for some reason, likes me reading to him whenever I’m here.”
“It’s fine.”
“We’ll take good care of Thomas,” Sid said.
Easton narrowed his eyes at him. “Be nice to him.”
“I’m always nice.”
I didn’t like being left alone without Easton, but there was little I could do.
When Dalton came downstairs, he stepped into the living room. “Can I get you anything, Thomas?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
I stared at the crackling fire, not sure what to say. Usually, I was a chatterbox when I was nervous, but my mind had gone blank. They were really nice men, but you could tell they were protective over Easton, as they should’ve been. I just wanted to make sure I did right by him.
“How are you and Easton doing?” Sid asked when Dalton sat down on the loveseat next to him, handing him a glass of something amber .
“Really good. He’s so amazing.”
“How much do you know of Easton’s past?” he asked carefully.
“Uhm, he told me how horrible and abusive his parents were. I’m so sad for him.”
Sid smiled softly and took Dalton’s hand in his. “Yes. I found him and have taken care of him since. Easton is… different.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’s hard for him to… connect with people.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, but I connect with him just fine. More than fine. Uhm, can I ask why you’re telling me this?”
“Easton can’t love. You realize that, right? I want you to be prepared. If you can’t handle that, I’d like you to move on from him.”
My eyes bugged wide, and my jaw dropped. That was a lot bolder than I expected, but I had to respect his honesty and protection over Easton.
“Sid…” Dalton warned. “Be gentle.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “You know… one of the things that first drew me to Easton was how blunt and honest he was. I like that. My dad… Well, he’s a liar and a manipulator.
He’s a gambling addict. It started as a coping mechanism after Mom died, but it’s getting out of control.
There isn’t much I can do except remind him how he hurts Annie and me.
I’m not sure what it will take to get him to stop, but only he can make that decision.
If he’s forced to, he’ll only stop temporarily.
” I sighed and rubbed my face because it was so embarrassing to talk about.
It was the shame that came with having a parent who had an addiction.
“The reason I’m telling you this is I need that honesty in my l ife.
I need to know where I stand with a person.
That there aren’t any games, especially with dating.
Easton does that for me. He protects me and he cares about me. ”
“I’m so sorry to hear about your father,” Dalton said.
“Thanks.”
Sid looked at the fire, playing with his husband’s fingers, sipping his drink, lost in thought, before he turned to me.
“He shows care because you give him what he needs. He doesn’t feel things like you or I do. He’ll never love you because he isn’t capable of it.”
I huffed, feeling the agitation burning at this man. I understood he was protecting Easton, but he also wasn’t giving him enough credit.
I stood and paced, my hand clenching and unclenching as the two men watched me carefully.
“You know, for someone who’s supposed to know Easton really well, you sure don’t see what I do.
When’s the last time you saw him in a relationship?
Never. He’s already told me he can’t feel love, but how do we know how love works?
All we know about it is what society tells us it’s supposed to be.
It doesn’t have to be some chemical reaction in the brain.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes. All that he does for me is…
yeah, it can seem transactional. I get that.
Easton meets all my needs. All of them. And in return, I meet his.
Isn’t that how relationships work? So what if it’s not a traditional sort of love?
” I patted my chest over my heart. “He loves me in his own special and unique way. I know he’d do anything to protect me.
And I will always love him and care about him.
I will protect him, too. He’s mine, and I’m his. ”
I deflated, plopped my butt on the couch, and sighed. God, they were going to hate me. “Ah… sorry for the outburst.”
Instead of the expected anger, Sid threw back his head and laughed.
“I stand corrected, kid. Nice speech, but you’re right.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of love.
I know Easton cares for us in his own way.
I just want you to understand what you’re in for.
Being in Easton’s life won’t always be easy. He’s a very complicated young man.”
“I’m ready for it all.”
“Good. Then, I wish you both luck in your relationship.”
“Thank you.”